CARLING CURRIE CUP
FIRST DIVISION
OVERVIEW
ABOUT
The Dotsure SWD Eagles were crowned Carling Currie Cup First Division champions for 2026, dethroning the Griffons with victory over the Valke in the final in George. The winners in 2024 and 2023, the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, qualified for the Premier Division through the SA Cup in 2025. The Eagles beat the Valke - winners of the Mzansi Challenge in 2023 and First Division runners up in 2025 - in a tense final at Outeniqua Park. The other teams in the competition were the Eastern Province from Gqeberha, the Leopards (Potchefstroom), and Border Bulldogs (East London). The Griffons were also champions in 2022, 2017 and 2016. Other recent champions are the Leopards (2021), Jaguares from Argentina (2019), while the Eagles won it again for the first time since 2018.
THE HISTORY
The Currie Cup is one of the oldest rugby competitions in the world, with the first games played in 1889, but it was only in 1892 that it became officially known as the Currie Cup. The original participating unions were Western Province, Griqualand West, Transvaal and Eastern Province. The first tournament was held in Kimberley and was won by Western Province. The Currie Cup trophy was donated to South Africa in 1891 by the touring British Isles team - it was given to the tourists by Sir Donald Currie, owner of Union-Castle Lines, the shipping company that transported them to the southern tip of Africa. Sir Donald was clear with his instructions – hand this trophy over to the team in South Africa that gives you the best game. After a spirited display where the unbeaten British Lions narrowly won 3-0, Griqualand West became the first ever holders of the Currie Cup.
CARLING CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION TABLE
CARLING CURRIE CUP FIRST DIVISION TOP PLAYER STATS
